KANNUR: A man from Kannur in Kerala who joined the Islamic State (IS) in Syria has been killed. Kannur police said that 30-year-old Abdul Manaf was killed in November last year.

Manaf was a native of Valapattinam. His relatives got the news of his death on January 17 from his friend, who is also in Syria, through a Telegram messenger app.

"The news about the death of Abdul Manaf in a fight in November, 2017 in Syria is correct. It was sent by his friend Kayyum, who is also fighting for the IS in Syria", Deputy Superintendent of Police PP Sadanandan said.

Manaf was a local leader of the Kerala based Popular Front India. He had also worked as the office secretary of the outfit in Delhi for some time before joining the IS.

Manaf was also involved in the murder of a CPI(M) worker in 2009.

As per reports, Manaf managed to sneak into Syria with a fake passport and had links with another IS operative from Kannur - Valluva Kandy Shajahan. Shahjahan had also in the past tried to enter Syria with fake details but was deported from Turkey and later arrested by Delhi Police.

There have been reports of nearly 15 persons from Kannur district who have joined the terrorist outfit over a period of time.

Out of those who joined IS, six people including Manaf have been killed in Syria. Five were arrested and handed over to the National Investigative Agency (NIA) for investigation.

According to some estimates around 100 Indians have left the country to fight for the Islamic State mainly in Syria and Iraq. Most of these cases have been reported to police by the families of these youths.